It may appear to many people that a tow bar is a universal vehicle add-on that attaches to the rear of a car or van. The reality is that in many cases each make, model and sub-model of vehicle requires a tow bar that has been designed solely for use on that vehicle.
To delve deeper into the world of tow bars keep reading….
Manufacturers.
Towbars have been a less-than-common sight on vehicles since the 1950s. Since then, the tow bar market has really taken off with many cars having them fitted for leisure or business use. The UK market is mainly catered for by the following tow bar manufacturers.
A long-established tow bar manufacturer that supplies many factory fit and aftermarket towbars.
Belgium-based tow bar company manufacturing since 1952.
German company designing and manufacturing many factory fit and aftermarket tow bars.
UK-based manufacturers producing both retail and commercial tow bars. The company is based in Halfway, Sheffield.
Polish company mainly selling tow bars to the European market. It is rare to find the brand on UK-based vehicles.
UK-based tow bar company that manufactures both retail and commercial tow bars. The TowTrust factory is in Birmingham.
Budget brand from Italian-based company.
UK-based company that’s been around for many years. We rarely get asked to fit a Witter tow bar but if we do then we can supply and fit them.
German business that manufactures tow bars for factory fit and aftermarket fitting
Towbar UK and EU Type Approval
Since August 1998 it has been a legal requirement for all tow bar that are used for towing are type-approved. This is a government requirement that all tow bar manufacturers have to adhere to.
Type approval requires that the manufacturer has passed strict regulations for the manufacturing and fitting of a tow bar to a vehicle.
All tow bars since 1998 have the type approval number affixed to the tow bar, this is a legal requirement.
Also, type approval requires that the tow bar is fitted to the manufacturer’s exact instructions. This includes the type of bolts and fixings used and the torque applied to the bolts and fixings.
You cannot make it. adapt and tow with a tow bar without getting a type-approval certificate.
Different Towbar Necks
There are SIX different tow bar types:
Fixed Flange
Mainly used on commercial vehicles, the fixed flange tow bar is where the tow ball is fixed to a flange / flat mounting plate on the tow bar.
Detachable Flange
Basically, the same as the fixed flange, except with the detachable one you can remove the neck from the tow bar assembly when not needed.
Fixed Swan Neck Towbars
The swan neck towbar attaches to the tow bar frame and has a bend in it, with the tow ball part being part of the tow bar neck itself. The Swan neck is recommended over the flange tow bar for vehicles with rear parking sensors. Available as either vertical or horizontal styles depending on the make and design.
Detachable Swan Neck Towbar
Like the fixed swan neck this tow bar neck can be detached when not required. No issues with rear parking sensors and less chance of banging your shin on the tow bar. Available in both horizontal and vertical styles, depending on the make and design.
Automatically Deployable Towbars
The automatic tow bars are designed to deploy by pressing a button in the vehicle’s boot. Seen on many high-end vehicles that have them factory fitted this style of tow bar is slowly making its way into the aftermarket. They sue a swan neck style where the neck is hidden behind the vehicle’s bumper.
Receiver Towbars
Common in the United States, the receiver hitch has a squire recess where the tow ball or in some cases an accessory can be attached. These cannot be imported from the States and legally used on UK roads unless they have the EU and UK type-approval certification.
Towbar Prices
Prices can vary quite significantly depending on brand and vehicle type. Like with most things, you do get what you pay for. A cheap tow bar purchased through eBay or Amazon is not going to be the same as a higher-priced bar purchased through a specialised dealer.
You can buy tow bars on eBay and Amazon for around £100, however, the design, fit and overall quality will not be the same as one costing around £400 from a specialist supplier.
If you just want a cheap tow bar where you aren’t bothered about the looks or quality then buying off Amazon or eBay might be the right choice for you.
Fitting a Towbar
Unless you’re mechanically experienced, we suggest leaving tow bar fitting to the experts.
In most cases, the rear lights, and bumper require removing from the vehicle.
if there’s an AdBlue tank this may need lowering or removing to allow access to the tow bar mounting points on the chassis. Parking sensors and lights within the rear bumper will need unclipping, along with any rear sensors that are behind the bumper.
If the vehicle has an AdBlue tank this could need moving or disconnecting to allow access to the chassis mounting points.
The vehicle’s exhaust may need to be lowered along with removing any tow hooks that might get in the way of the tow bar frame.
Body panels in the vehicle’s boot may require moving if there are tow bar mounting places within the inner chassis area.
All bolts and attachments will need to be torqued to the correct amount, specified by the tow bar manufacturer.
Once the tow bar has been fitted the rear bumper or undertray will probably require cutting to allow for the tow bar.
All together an experienced tow bar fitter should be able to complete the fitting in around two hours. (Depending on the tow bar and vehicle being fitted to.)
Unless you’re experienced then we recommend getting the tow bar fitted professionally. The cost of any damage would outweigh the price of a professional company fitting the tow bar. New rear light clusters aren’t cheap.
Buying a towbar off Amazon or eBay and Getting it Professionally Fitted.
You may have toyed with the idea of saving money by buying a tow bar and then getting a tow bar specialist to fit it. Unfortunately, this isn’t something that most tow bar companies would do. The reason is that the businesses insurance wouldn’t cover the fitting of the tow bar and the company would not be able to offer any guarantee.
Towbar Accessories
Tow bar accessories include things such as different tow balls, ball and pin tow balls, drop plates. The main thing is that the accessory is type-approved for use with the tow bar.
There are many drop plates on the market that are not type-approved and as such would be illegal to use.
Before buying any tow bar accessory make sure it is approved for use on the tow bar you have fitted.
Tow Balls
There are several different tow bars, which you require depending on what your tow hitch will be.
All tow balls used on cars have a 50mm diameter
The standard tow ball has a 50mm ball with a neck height. Suitable for trailers and cycle carriers. (NOT suitable for ALKO hitches.)
ALKO-compatible tow balls have a 50mm ball and a high reach neck. Suitable for ALKO hitches, trailers and cycle-carriers.
Ball and Pin tow balls have a 50mm standard tow ball and a pin connector for use with industrial trailers. (Not suitable for ALKO hitches.)
All swan neck tow bars have a 50mm ALKO suitable ball.
Towing Weights
The weight you can tow behind your vehicle depends on the vehicle manufacturer’s maximum tow weight and the tow bars maximum tow weight, as set by the type-approval regulations. The same is true for the maximum weight that can be put on the tow ball (Nose weight.)
The type approval label on the tow bar will have the maximum allowable weights printed on it. Never risk going over the maximum.
Used or Second-hand Towbars
Available from your local scrap dealer or used car parts retailer, eBay and Facebook marketplace. Used towbars can be had at a fraction of the new cost. The only considerations that can make fitting a used tow bar a not so wise decision.
When a tow bar is fitted to a vehicle it has to comply with type-approval regulations. Bolts, locking washers and fixings can only be used once. If you want to fit a used towbar you will require a new bolt and fixings kit from the tow bar manufacturer.
Unless you know the history of the tow bar you could be fitting something that could fail at any moment. Rust or misuse can cause fractures in the tow bar welds, these can be invisible to anyone looking for them.
Having a tow bar fail whilst towing or using a bike carrier will cause massive damage and will certainly outweigh the savings made by fitting a used tow bar.
CONCLUSION
There are several tow bar manufacturers supplying the UK tow bar market. No one manufacturer is best.
Fitting your own towbar is possible, but probably better left to the professionals.
Towbar type approval is required for all towbars fitted to vehicles manufactured after 1998
There are six tow bar types, from a fixed flange to an automatically deployable swan neck.
Towbar accessories must be approved for use with the towbar you have fitted.
Not all tow balls are the same. If you have an ALKO caravan hitch then make sure the tow ball is compatible.
Towing weights are dependent on the vehicle and the tow bar.
Fitting a used towbars are not recommended because of the fail risk.
